Friday, 17 February 2012

WHB Basil pesto

You'd think after almost five years of food blogging that I would have a basic recipe for basil pesto on my blog. You would also think I could photograph pesto in focus. You might even expect I could make a basic couscous salad with pesto. I regret to inform you: No, No and No!

I almost didn't post this because the top photo wasn't as in focus as I had dreamt it might be (and it is the best of a bad lot). But the pesto was still green in the airtight container after a week. It is one of the best that I have even made. So I am sharing it with you despite blurry photos, wilting basil leaves and crumbs on my table.

Some days you just have to take me as I am. I never promised sumptuous photos. Surely you wont mind if you taste this pesto. It really was wonderful. Fragrant, tasty and brilliantly green. Great in a seeded bun with tomato and cheese when you have been swimming. Quite cheesy. (Note to self: find a good basic recipes for vegan pesto that works for me!)

It is also fantastic on chia bread. But here is a tip! Don't store your pesto in a purple airtight container. Because you will surely open the fridge and curse at how your glorious green pesto has discoloured overnight. Murky brown pesto just doesn't have the same appeal. I didn't cover mine with oil as the experts recommend. Yet once the lid was off the purple tub, the pesto miraculously was green and stayed this colour in the airtight container in the fridge for a week.

Lastly, a spoonful of pesto over a minestrone-style soup is delicious. Which made me realise I have also never posted about a basic minestrone. Let's leave that for another time. For now, I will just feel my blog is that teensy bit closer to completion with this pesto recipe.

This is something I have been meaning to put on my blog too! I love pesto and use it in so many ways, I agree that it's wonderful as a sandwich spread. I make it with nutritional yeast flakes and salt as a substitute for parmesan. It keeps in the fridge for ages, when you don't polish it all off quickly. ;)

I made pesto twice this week. Cooper loves it as do I. I like to make mine with cashew nuts and add a wee squeeze of lemon to keep the beautiful colour. Your photos are great, I didn't notice any of them out of focus, so dinna fash yursel (ask hubby) :)

Your photos are just fine by me :) Especially the third - that looks like a good roll. Also, it makes me feel better for my own not-in-focus photos, which I can still manage despite the fancy camera ;)

Stop it Johanna! I seriously just at a big whoppin' lunch and the pic of your sandwich is making me hungry. Seriously... That sandwich looks simply scrumptious.

I have a new cookbook that is making pesto out of kale & walnut instead of basil and pine nut. I am planning on testing the waters with kale & pecan as I have a freezer load of frozen shelled pecan. Don't see how any fresh veggie and nut combination can really go wrong.

Thanks Chucky - I have made kale and walnut pesto and highly recommend it - agree that vegie and nut is an excellent combination - you have made me think this might be a good place to add some links of other fancier pestos I have made - if energy holds up!

I would never have realized the photo was out of focus (see, my eyes are even MORE out of focus than the photo!) or noticed the crumbs on the table if you hadn't mentioned them! I love a good pesto. This one sounds terrific. And the purple container is so cute--too bad it didn't preserve the pesto color the way it should have!

Thanks Ricki - I convinced myself that there was enough in focus on the top photo to post it but I had visions of a far sharper image - and it was cathartic to write about my disappointment rather than feeling slightly annoyed every time I looked at it

Thanks Lynne - realised my wording was misleading re leaving the lid off the purple container - have amended it so hopefully it makes more sense - I think it was using more oil than usual that kept the pesto bright but am not quite sure

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About Me

Recipes and reflections in which our vegetarian heroine dreams of being tall and graceful as a giraffe; being a goddess in the kitchen; and being gladdened by green gadgets, green food and green politics because green is the colour of hope. See About Me for more info.